Improvement in oil-cans



tatrtiatwt waa-aa Mw- WILLIAM A. FEN'N, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORTO HIM- SELF AND HENRY B. BEACH. OF SAME PLACE.

LetterslPatmt No. 89,299, dated April 27, 1869.

IMieRovsM,nur IN oIL-cANs.

To all whom it may conce/rn Be it known that I,A WILLIAM A. FENN, of thecity* of Rochester, in the county of Monroe, and State of New York, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cans for Household Usein Holding Liquids; and I do hereby declare that the following is a fulland exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is asection of my improvement.

Figure 2 a plan.

Figure 3, a view of the cut-off gate detached.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

My invention consistsin the application of a ventilating and cut-off'attachment to a can, for containing liquids, constructed. substantiallyas hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings- A represents a can of ordinary1 construction, having ascrew-top, or cover, B, such as is employed in common oil-cans.

. 0n top this cover I secure, by soldering or otherwise, a smallcylinder, O, containing two disks, a a.,

of cork or other packing, filling the body of cylinder.

Between these packings rests a circular gate, b, with a stem, c,projecting out through the side -of the cylinder and resting-in a slot,cl, of sufficient extent to allow a degree of lateral motion.

Through the packing and through the gate, are made two holes orpassages, f g, the first corresponding in position with the spout h,attached toltop of cylinder C, and the latter with a hole, t', in thetop of cylinder, and a vent-tube, k, which extends down into the bodyofthe can, and preferably, but not necessarily, turns up on the backside, as clearly-shown.

The action of this device will be readily understood. When the gate isturned in one position, the passages f g -will coincide with the parts hi k, and the liquid will pass out of the one, and the air into theother, to fill the vacuum, thus insuring a clear and steady iiow. Whenturned in the other position, both passages will be cut off, and thecontents closed against evaporation. This is especially effective incans for holdingl Ykerosene oil, which is very ethereal in itscharacter, and requires to be kept very close.

-I am aware that in various devices, provision is `made for ventilationin drawing the liquid. I claim that eject the liquid from the one,andadmit air I through the other, as before described. I prefer the formshown, but various modifications or changes may be made without changingthe nature of the invention.

By the attachment of this device to the cover instead of' the can, thesimplest, most compact, and cheapest form is secured. The covercan beremoved from place with the greatest facility, and when thus removed,thecan is entirely free from any impediment, such as the ordinary spout,and can be filled as easily as if no such arrangement were used. Still,if desirable, the improvement may be attached to the can itself' insteadof the cover.

A small spring, p, rests beneath a follower, j, beneath the packing a,the object of which is to press the packing up, as shown in fig. 1. Thisserves to keep the joint between the packing and the gate al* waystight. In order to insure the proper action of the vent, the air tube kis attached to this loose follower.

I am aware that a combined stopper, or valve to the spout, and a vent,have been before employed, as shown in patent No. 71,887.

I am also aware that a simple vent has been before employed, as inpatent No. 76,802; but I am not aware that these effects have ever beenproduced in an arrangement like mine.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The employment, in an oil or other can, of a turning or sliding gate,b, used in combination with'packing a, and so arranged as to perform thedouble effect of opening both the spout passage and the vent at oneaction, and lvice 'ver-sa, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination, with the cover of an oil or other can, of a spout,h, a vent, lc, and a cut-oli" device, b, substantially as herein setforth.

3. The arrangement of the cylinder C with spout h, the packings a a, thegate b, and the air-tube k, substantially as and for the purposespecied.

4. .The combination, with the packings a a, of the follower j and springp, operating in the manner and for the purpose specified.

5. Attaching the vent tube It to the follower j, in the manner and forthe purpose specified.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto nsigned'ny name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

WM. A. FENN.

